Urban Informatics (ABPL90366)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2020

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As part of the University’s response to COVID-19 and the associated Government restrictions and guidelines, most subjects will continue to be delivered online in Winter and Semester 2.
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.

Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.

Overview

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Urban Informatics is the study of cities using digital data, information, knowledge and models to understand trends, complexities and inform the formulation and evaluation of sustainable urban futures.

This subject aims to arm the student with the necessary fundamental concepts and practical understanding of the rise of the Smart City and how urban informatics can assist in evidenced-based and collaborative decision-making.

The new science of cities (Batty, 2013) is driven by the deluge of data that enables the mapping of the Smart City and new geographies that can be explored, analysed and synthesized. Planners, geographers, urban designers, landscape architects, spatial scientists and other disciplines interest in the urban settlements require a deeper knowledge of digital data and how to access, interrogate, visualize and synthesis such data to realise the vision of the smart and sustainable city.

This subject utilises the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) portal as an e-learning resource for exploring what is possible in emerging in the new discipline of urban informatics. Students will also be exposed to a range of other complementary digital environments including open data repositories, urban modelling and visualisation tools and open source geospatial information technologies.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject students should be able to:



  • Recall the basic concepts and theory of urban informatics, GIS, modelling and visualisation
  • Recall the origin and development of smart cities
  • Identify and source available data resources being made available through open government data initiatives
  • Use online data portals and open source analytical tools to understand human settlement patterns
  • Operate the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) Portal for conducting urban analysis
  • Conduct spatial-statistical analysis of data comprising Australian cities
  • Conduct thematic mapping of census and other aggregate datasets
  • Experiment with visual analytic techniques to explore trends in urban data
  • Prepare reports and presentations that use complex urban data to interpret socio-economic and physical changes in cities.
  • Synthesize fine scale city data to support urban planning and design at the precinct level.

Generic skills

Spatial analysis, data visualisation.

Last updated: 9 May 2023

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Understanding of digital data, spatial information and related geographical information sciences would be advantageous.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 9 May 2023

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Completion of 4 tutorial exercises

  • 2000 words (equivalent)
2 Weeks after the end of teaching40%

Research Project part I – Oral presentation

  • 1000 words (equivalent)
4 Weeks after the end of teaching20%

Research Project part II

  • 2000 words (equivalent)
18 May40%

Last updated: 9 May 2023

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

Not available in 2020

Time commitment details

170 hours

Additional delivery details

Quota 50

This subject has an automated quota. Your enrolment confirms your space in this subject. If you choose to withdraw from this subject you will be forfeiting your space and may be unable to enrol again. Please check the Handbook for more information. For detailed information on quota subjects and due dates, please refer to the EDSC Quota Subjects webpage.

Selection Criteria: selection will be run on a first-come, first-served basis.

For detailed information on the quota subject application process and due dates, refer to the EDSC Quota Subjects webpage.

Last updated: 9 May 2023

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Townsend, A. 2013, Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia.

  • Subject notes

    Coordinator - Jack Barton

    [Sessional] [Senior Tutor] [Coordinator]

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    CourseMaster of Urban Design
    CourseMaster of Urban Planning
    Specialisation (formal)Spatial
  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 9 May 2023